I went AWOL again – I decided to take  my Summer holidays early, and a couple of weeks ago I took a trip to London to see the quilts at the V&A. It’s a great exhibition, the full title of which is QUILTS 1700 – 2010 Hidden Histories, Untold Stories, and I really loved that it covered all the things I’m really curious about…such as who the quilts were made by, for whom, how and why.

There was a broad mix ranging from exquisite embroidered silk patchwork bed covers from the eighteenth century, and patchworks made for warmth, utilising every scarce scrap of fabric available, to more recent art quilts and artworks influenced by patchwork and quilting. I love them all…well most of them. I am in awe of the amazing skill and patience need to produce these beautiful treasures.

I know a lot of people don’t like ‘art quilts’  but for me, if the composition, colours, textures, stitches, or story speaks to me then I can respond to that, regardless of whether it’s an article made for practical use or to be displayed on a wall in a gallery. I don’t think that either is of greater value…and I feel the same way about the debate concerning art v craft.

London was lovely and warm, but grey, so I didn’t take many pictures. Wandering around, just soaking up the cosmopolitan atmosphere , was lots of fun for a small town girl like me.

Last week Robb and I had a mini break in our campervan – England again, but this time, the North. We explored the coast of Northumberland, which was very beautiful…around every corner there was another castle, and picturesque shoreline. Which makes me wonder why most of my pictures are of wheels, cans of beer and sausages?!!?